DamienDeville
November 24th, 2004, 09:27 AM
What is "traditional Satanism"?
by Diane Vera
By "traditional Satanism" we mean Satanism in the traditional primary sense of the word "Satanism" -- the worship of Satan as a deity.
The word "Satanism" has been given other meanings too. For the past several decades, most public Satanist spokespeople have been atheistic symbolic Satanists, also known as "modern Satanists" or "LaVeyan Satanists," who do not believe in or worship Satan as a deity but identify with Satan as a symbol.
At the present time, "traditional Satanism" is the most ccmmonly-used label for those Satanists who do worship Satan as a deity. However, we are "traditional" only in the sense of reclaiming the traditional primary meaning of the word "Satanism." Most (if not all) traditional Satanists are not "traditional" in the sense of having a direct lineage from any Satanist group that existed before 1966 C.E.
The label "traditional Satanism" has also been used by some who believe in Satan as a deity but scorn the idea of "worship." We of the Black Goat Cabal are unashamed to say that we worship Satan. The word "worship" does not mean groveling or self-abasement. It means reverent love, adoration, and devotion.
The label "traditional Satanism" has also been used by some who hold that Satanists should be involved in extremist politics, terrorism, or other violent criminal activity. However, at least here in the United States, it appears that the vast majority of traditional Satanists (in the sense defined in this article) are law-abiding. The Black Goat Cabal represents law-abiding forms of traditional Satanism only.
Other terms for "traditional Satanism" include "Devil worship," "theistic Satanism," "spiritual Satanism," and "Diabolatry." Some of us may consider one or more of these other labels to be more accurate or otherwise more appropriate than "traditional Satanism." But "traditional Satanism" is the term apparently preferred by most.
Copyright © 2003 Black Goat Cabal. All rights reserved.
http://www.theistic-satanism.org/bgoat/traditional.html
by Diane Vera
By "traditional Satanism" we mean Satanism in the traditional primary sense of the word "Satanism" -- the worship of Satan as a deity.
The word "Satanism" has been given other meanings too. For the past several decades, most public Satanist spokespeople have been atheistic symbolic Satanists, also known as "modern Satanists" or "LaVeyan Satanists," who do not believe in or worship Satan as a deity but identify with Satan as a symbol.
At the present time, "traditional Satanism" is the most ccmmonly-used label for those Satanists who do worship Satan as a deity. However, we are "traditional" only in the sense of reclaiming the traditional primary meaning of the word "Satanism." Most (if not all) traditional Satanists are not "traditional" in the sense of having a direct lineage from any Satanist group that existed before 1966 C.E.
The label "traditional Satanism" has also been used by some who believe in Satan as a deity but scorn the idea of "worship." We of the Black Goat Cabal are unashamed to say that we worship Satan. The word "worship" does not mean groveling or self-abasement. It means reverent love, adoration, and devotion.
The label "traditional Satanism" has also been used by some who hold that Satanists should be involved in extremist politics, terrorism, or other violent criminal activity. However, at least here in the United States, it appears that the vast majority of traditional Satanists (in the sense defined in this article) are law-abiding. The Black Goat Cabal represents law-abiding forms of traditional Satanism only.
Other terms for "traditional Satanism" include "Devil worship," "theistic Satanism," "spiritual Satanism," and "Diabolatry." Some of us may consider one or more of these other labels to be more accurate or otherwise more appropriate than "traditional Satanism." But "traditional Satanism" is the term apparently preferred by most.
Copyright © 2003 Black Goat Cabal. All rights reserved.
http://www.theistic-satanism.org/bgoat/traditional.html